Contract staff includes district officials’ relatives

Communications funds go to CFO’s daughter, attorney’s wife

In addition to its communications salaries, the Douglas County School District is paying at least $23,500 more to contracted department staff this year.

That includes $12,000 to paid intern Allie Bloomfield, daughter of Chief Financial Officer Bonnie Betz. Bloomfield signed a five-month contract with the district July 15 at a rate of $2,400 a month, and is assigned to the communications department.

In 2013, the department also spent $10,000 on a one-year-only position with a multimedia producer who created videos for DCSD’s school choice catalog. The project was funded by carryover money, DCSD spokeswoman Michelle Yi said.

In August, the department also paid DCSD legal counsel Rob Ross’ wife about $1,500 for 45 hours of work — an hourly rate of $32.50. Linda Ross is working as a temporary employee in a variety of departments and has not worked in the communications office since August, according to Yi.

DCSD policy allows the district to employ more than one member of an immediate family, but forbids employees from supervising or evaluating an immediate family member.